Alistair Bell

Alistair Watson Bell (31 March 1930 – 2 August 2012) was a British Circuit judge and Liberal Party politician.

Background

Bell was born in Edinburgh, only son of Albert William Bell and Alice Elizabeth Watson. He was educated at Lanark Grammar School, George Watson's College and the Universities of Edinburgh (MA) and Wadham College, Oxford (MA, BCL). In 1957 he married Patricia Margaret Seed. They had two daughters and a son.

Professional career

Bell served as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Army Service Corps in 1955. In 1955 he received a Call to the bar, by Middle Temple. He entered practice on the Northern Circuit in 1957. He was a Recorder of the Crown Court from 1972 to 1978 and Honorary Recorder at Carlisle from 1990 to 1998. He served as a Circuit Judge from 1978 to 1997.

Political career

Bell was Liberal candidate for the Chorley division of Lancashire at the 1964 General Election. He was then Liberal candidate for the Westmorland division at the 1966 General Election. He did not stand for parliament again.

Electoral record

General election 1964: Chorley

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Clifford Kenyon	24,710	48.4	−2.3
	Conservative	John Sutcliffe	20,997	41.1	−8.2
	Liberal	Alistair Bell	5,331	10.5	N/A
Majority			3,713	7.3	+6.0
Turnout			51,038	84.6	−1.1
	Labour hold		Swing	+3.0

General election 1966: Westmorland

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Michael Jopling	17,907	50.5	-1.2
	Liberal	Alistair Bell	9,052	25.6	-4.4
	Labour	John E Dayton	8,465	23.9	+5.6
Majority			8,855	24.9	+3.2
Turnout				75.5	-3.3
	Conservative hold		Swing	+1.6